Beneath the waves

Hidden Prince

Jungkook had always felt a mysterious pull towards the sea. Growing up, he often dreamed of vast oceans and endless horizons, but his grandmother, whom he affectionately called Nana, had always been firm about one thing: he was never to go near the sea. Jungkook never understood why, but out of respect and love for Nana, he obeyed.

Now, as a shy university student, Jungkook found himself yearning for adventure and a break from his studies. His friends had planned a trip to a seaside town, and despite his initial hesitation, they had convinced him to join them.

"Come on, Jungkook! It’ll be fun," his friend Hoseok had insisted. "We’ll relax, have some fun, and forget about exams for a while."

Nana had been reluctant but surprisingly gave her permission, albeit with a look of deep concern. "Be careful, my dear," she had said, pressing a seashell pendant into his hand. "Keep this with you always. It will keep you safe."

Jungkook promised her he would, though he didn't understand why she was so worried. The trip was meant to be a simple getaway, but little did he know, it was about to change his life forever.

***

The seaside town was beautiful, with golden sands, azure waters, and the salty tang of the ocean breeze filling the air. Jungkook felt an inexplicable sense of peace wash over him as soon as they arrived. The feeling was both familiar and strange, like coming home to a place he had never been.

While his friends ran towards the waves, Jungkook lingered by the shore, his eyes scanning the horizon. He felt a strange pull, a whisper in the back of his mind urging him to go deeper, to discover something hidden beneath the surface.

As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the water, Jungkook wandered away from the group, feeling a magnetic pull towards the rocky cliffs at the far end of the beach. He climbed up to find a secluded cove, the waves crashing rhythmically against the rocks.

Sitting on a boulder, he watched the sea, the pendant Nana had given him clutched in his hand. Suddenly, the water began to shimmer in a way he had never seen before, and from the depths, a figure emerged.

Taehyung, a merman with a piercing stare, broke the surface, his eyes locking onto Jungkook’s. His dark hair glistened with sea water, and his scales shimmered like precious gems in the fading light. He was both enchanting and intimidating, and Jungkook felt his breath catch in his throat.

“Who are you?” Jungkook managed to whisper, his voice barely audible over the crashing waves.

Taehyung swam closer, his eyes never leaving Jungkook’s. “I am Taehyung,” he said, his voice like the melody of the sea, yet with an edge as sharp as a blade. “And you, Jungkook, are more than you realize.”

Jungkook's heart pounded in his chest. “How do you know my name?”

Taehyung’s gaze remained cold, unwavering. “You are the merman prince, Jungkook. The sea has been calling you home.”

Jungkook shook his head, disbelief clouding his mind. “That’s impossible. I’m just a university student.”

Taehyung moved closer, reaching out to touch the seashell pendant. “This pendant was given to you to protect you until the time was right. You were hidden away to keep you safe, but now the sea needs you, and so do I.”

Confusion and fear swirled within Jungkook, but so did a strange sense of belonging. “Why should I believe you?”

Taehyung’s eyes, so intense yet filled with an icy determination, looked deep into his. “Because you can feel it, can’t you? The sea calls to you. It’s in your blood, in your soul. Come with me, and I will show you.”